Rack for trash barrels



Oct. 17,1987 c. R. DYER RACK FOR TRASH BARRELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1966 Cecil R. Dyer INVENTOK.

Oct. 17, 1967 c. R. DYE 3,347,507

RACK FOR TRASH BARRELS Fi'led Aug. 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cfeci/ R. p r

INVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,347,507 RACK FOR TRASH BARRELS Cecil R. Dyer, 602 E. Virginia St., Anadarko, Okla. 73905 Filed Aug. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 571,841 9 Claims. (Cl. 248-447) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rack including an elevated horizontally disposed base adapted to support a trash can thereon and provided with an upright standard adjacent one marginal edge portion of the base having a hinged closure cover pivotally secured to its upper end for operative association with a trash barrel or can supported from the rack, the standard including adjustable inclined bracing extending between an upper portion of the standard and the base with the bracing and standard being so mounted from the base and connected to each other in a manner enabling angular displacement of the standard relative to the base about right angularly disposed horizontal axes and also vertical adjustment of the standard relative to the base.

This invention relates to a novel and useful rack for trash barrels or cans and more specifically to a rack designed to provide a structure for supporting a trash can or the like in a maner with the trash can or barrel tightly closed and in an elevated position above a supporting surface on which the stand or rack of the instant invention is positioned.

The main object of this invention is to provide a rack for a trash barrel or can capable of supporting a trash container in an elevated position against accidental tipping and in a manner tightly closing the normally open upper end of the trash container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rack in accordance with the preceding object and including a pivotally supported cover for an associated trash receptacle which is movable into and out of position closing the associated container and operable by means of a suitable pedal assembly conveniently placed for ease of operation by a person wishing to place trash in a receptacle positioned on the rack.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a trash container rack in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relalatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the trash container rack of the instant invention shown operatively supporting a trash container therefrom, portions of the container being broken away to more clearly illustrate the structural details of the rack;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 2;

Patented Oct. 17, 1967 FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the upper portion of the standard of the rack and also rear marginal edge portion of the cover of the rack which is supported from the standard;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front portion of the cover of the rack with portions thereof being broken away and illustrated in section to more clearly illustrate the structure details thereof; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the connecting link operatively connecting the operating pedal of the stand with the cover thereof.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the rack of the instant invention which includes a base section generally referred to by the reference numeral 12, an upright standard generally referred to by the reference numeral 14, and a cover generally referred to by the reference numeral 16.

The base section 12 includes a pair of generally parallel opposite side angle members 18 interconnected at t their rear ends by means of a rear angle member 20. The

side angle members 18 include outer upstanding flange portions 22 and inner horizontally disposed flange portions 24. A front angle member 26 including an inner horizontal flange portion 28 and an outer downwardly directed flange portion 30 is connected between the front ends of the angle members 18. The base section 12 further includes four downwardly and outwardly inclined supporting legs 32 and a slotted retaining bracket 34 is secured to and depends from the front angle member 26 at a point disposed centrally intermediate its opposite ends. The retaining bracket 34 is provided with an L- shaped slot 36 including a vertical portion 38 and a lower horizontal portion 40.

A pair of apertured mounting lugs 42 are dependingly supported from a transverse angle member 44 secured between the angle members 18 intermediate the angle members 20 and 26 and an actuating lever 46 is pivotally supported between the mounting lugs 42 by means of a pivot pin 48 secured through the mounting lugs 42 and passing through the actuating lever 46 intermediate its front and rear ends. The forward end of the actuating lever 46 projects through and is vertically slidable in the vertical portion 38 of the slot 36 and has a foot engageable pedal element 50 secured to its forward extremity.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG- URES 2 and 5 of the drawings it may be seen that the standard 14 has its lower end secured to one leaf 54 of a hinge assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 56 whose other leaf 5% is secured to the rear angle member 29. The leaf 54 is secured to a collar 59' slidable on the lower end of the standard 14 by means of a suitable fastener 60 and the collar may be retained in adjusted position on the standard 14, after vertically adjusting the latter as desired, by means of setscrew 61. Further, the standard 14 is tubular and provided with a forwardly opening slot 62 at its lower end. A sleeve 64 is secured to the undersurface of the rear end of the actuating lever 46 and a shank member 66 is rotatably secured through the sleeve 64 by means of a suitable pin 68. The end of the shank member 66 remote from the pin 68 is secured to a U-shaped member 70 between whose arms an apertured plate 72 is pivotally supported by means of stub pins 74. The plate 72 is apertured as at 76 and receives therethrough the lower end of a threaded shaft 78 secured in position relative to the apertured plate 72 by means of a pair of threaded fasteners 30 threadedly engaged with the shaft 78 and disposed on opposite sides of the plate 72.

3 The threaded shaft 78 defines, a lower end portion of an elongated connecting link 82 whose upper section 84 telescopically receives the upper end of the threaded shaft 1 78 and. has a threaded fastener 86 secured thereto in which the threaded shaft 78 is threadedly engaged whereby the effective length of the connecting link 82 may be adjusted. The upper end of the connecting link 82 includes a slightly forwardly inclined upper, terminal end 88 which is projectable through a forwardly opening slot 90 formed in the upper end of the tubular standard 14.

A clamp assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 92 is provided and includes a pair of strap members 94 including vertically aligned portions clampingly secured between clamp plates 96 extending therebetween and secured together by means of suitable fasteners 97. A generally U-shaped brace including a pair of generally parallel arm portions 98 interconnected by means of a bight portion 100 at one pair of correspond ing ends has the free ends of its arm portions or arm members 98 anchored to suitable anchoring pins 102 carried by the opposite side angle members 18 intermediate their opposite ends. The bight portion 100 passes between the standard 14 and the adjacent plate 96 and accordingly, upon tightening the fasteners 97 the clamp assembly 92 may be caused to clampingly secure the bight portion 100 in adjusted position relative to thebands 94. Therefore, the inclination of the standard 14 relative to the base section 12 may be readily adjusted.

As can best be seen from FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, the upper end of the standard 14 has a forwardly opening channel member104 secured thereto in any convenient manner such as by welding 106. The chan nel member 104 projects above the standard 14 as can.

best seen from FIGURE 6 of the drawings and supports a pivot pin 1G8 upon which a sleeve .110 is rotatably journaled. A support arm 112 has one end secured to the sleeve 110 and projects radially outwardly of the latter and is secured to the upper surface of a downwardly opening closure cover 114 including a downturned peripheral lip portion 116 and an annular sealing gasket 118 disposed within the confines of the lip portion 116. An L- shaped bracket member 120 is secured to the outer end of the support arm 112 and the lip portion 116. An elongated downwardly opening housing 122 is secured over the bracket 120 and the support arm 112 at the free end of the closure cover 114 and to the support arm 112 adjacent the sleeve 110 by means of a suitable fastener 124. In addition, a generally inverted U-shaped bracket 126 including a bight portion 128 interconnecting the upper ends of a pair of generally parallel legs129 is provided and is also secured to the radial innermost end of the support arm 112 by means of the fastener 124. The upper terminal end portion 88 of the connecting link 82 is provided with a transverse bore 130 and disposed between the legs 129. A pivot pin 132 is secured through suitable apertures formed in the legs 129 and is rotatably received through the bore 130.

The forward ends of the horizontal flange portions 24 are slightly downwardly inclined as. at 136 to provide guiding surfaces for a trash can or barrel such as that indicated at 138 and disposed on the rack It). In addition, corner plates 139 are secured in the rear corners of the base section 12 defined by the intersections of the angle members 18 with the angle member and each of the corner plates includes a forwardly facing concave edge 140 for embracingly receiving the corresponding quadrant of lower end of the container or barrel 138.

The actuating lever 46 may be slightly laterally deflected at its forward end so as to engage the end portion thereof adjacent the pedal element 50 with the horizontal portion of the slot 36 whereby the forward end of the actuating lever 46 may be maintained in a forwardly and downwardly inclined position to maintain the closure cover 114 in a forwardly and upwardly inclined open position. Of course, as soon as an amount of trash has been disthe 4- posed Within the container or barrel 138, the pedal element 50 may be urged slightly to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1 of the drawings so as to again register the adjacent end portion of the actuating lever 36 withthe lower end of the vertical portion 38 of the slot 36 whereby the weight of the closure cover 114 will be sufiicient to lower the free edge portion of the cover 114 down into full seated contact with the open upper end of the container or trash barrel 138.

The plates 139 as well as the arm portions 98 serve to cradle the rear lower portions of the container or barrel 138 and the rack 10 may be disposed on any suitable supporting surface 142, the rack 10 being operable to sup:

port the trash container or barrel 138 in an elevated position above the supporting surface 132.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Whatis claimed. as new is as follows:

1. A rack for trash. cans comprising a base section adapted to removably support an upright trash can from its lower end and including front and rear marginal portions as well as opposite side marginal portions, an upright standard pivot axis defining means pivotally supporting the lower end of said standard from the rear marginal portion of said base section for swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis extending trans-.

versely of said standard and between said opposite side marginal portions forwardly and downwardly inclined inverted generally U-shaped, brace means interconnected between said base section and said standard, said brace means including a pair of generally parallel legs interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of a bight portion, the free ends of said legs being pivotally secured to opposite side portions of said base section for rotation about axes extending therebetween, means securing said bight portion to said standard at a location spaced above said axis and for vertical shifting of said bight portion relative to said standard therefore, adjustably securing said standard in adjusted rotated positions relative to said base section, and a cover supported from the upper end of said standard for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis between a generally horizontal position projecting forwardly of said standard and an upstanding position with its free edge portion swung upwardly toward an upstanding position.

2. The combination of claim 1 including actuating means for said cover including an operating pedal oscillatably supported from said base section and including a foot engageable portion projecting forwardly of said base section, said actuating means including elongated connecting link means operatively connected between said pedal and said cover for raising and lowering said cover in response to oscillation of said pedal and generally paralleling said standard.

3. The combination of claim 4 wherein said standard is hollow and said connecting link means projects upwardly through said standard.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said base section and said pedal include coacting portions operative to releasably retain said pedal in position with said cover pivoted to a position With its free edge portion swung upwardly from the generally horizontally disposed position.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cover includes seal means adapted to form a relatively good seal between said cover and the normally open top of a trash can disposed on said base section when said cover is horizontally disposed.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pivot axis defining means also includes means supporting said standard for adjustable longitudinal shifting relative to said axis.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pivot axis defining means include means supporting said standard for angular adjustment about a horizontal axis adjacent said standard and disposed generally normal to the first mentioned axis, said means securing said bight portion to said standard also including means operative to secure said bight portion in longitudinally shifted positions relative to said standard.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said pivot axis defining means also include-s means supporting said standard for adjustable longitudinal shifting relative to said axis.

9. The combination of claim 1 including actuating means for said cover including an operating pedal oscillatably supported from said base section and including a foot engageable portion projecting forwardly of said base section, said actuating means including elongated connecting link means operatively connected between said pedal and said cover for raising and lowering said cover in response to oscillation of said pedal and generally paralleling said standard, said pivot axis defining means also including means supporting said standard for adjustable longitudinal shifting relative to said axis, said connecting link means including means operative to adjust the effective length of said connecting link means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,920 6/1893 Roth 248-147 1,195,566 8/1916 Davis 248-147 1,251,984 1/1918 Losoncy 248-147 X 1,947,879 2/1934 Sandberg et al. 248-147 1,948,413 2/1934 Carola 220-36 2,079,698 5/1937 Roesinger et a1. 248-147 2,096,506 10/1937 Brandstrom 248-147 2,505,126 4/1950 Logan 211-84 2,726,833 12/1955 Burgh 248-147 2,828,176 3/1958 Burgh 248-147 2,838,264 6/1958 Hill 248-147 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,152,476 9/ 1957 France.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner. CLA'UDE A. LEROY, Examiner. 

1. A RACK FOR TRASH CANS COMPRISING A BASE SECTION ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY SUPPORT AN UPRIGHT TRASH CAN FROM ITS LOWER END AND INCLUDING FRONT AND REAR MARGINAL PORTIONS AS WELL AS OPPOSITE SIDE MARGINAL PORTIONS, AN UPRIGHT STANDARD PIVOT AXIS DEFINING MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING THE LOWER END OF SAID STANDARD FROM THE REAR MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID BASE SECTION FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID STANDARD AND BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE SIDE MARGINAL PORTIONS FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED, BRACE MEANS INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID BASE SECTION AND SAID STANDARD, SAID BRACE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF GENERALLY PARALLEL LEGS INTERCONNECTED AT ONE PAIR OF CORRESPONDING ENDS BY MEANS OF A BIGHT PORTION, THE FREE ENDS OF SAID LEGS BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED TO OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BASE SECTION FOR ROTATION ABOUT AXES EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, MEANS SECURING SAID BIGHT PORTION TO SAID STANDARD AT A LOCATION SPACED ABOVE SAID AXIS AND FOR VERTICAL SHIFTING OF SAID BIGHT PORTION RELATIVE TO SAID STANDARD THEREFORE, ADJUSTABLY SECURING SAID STANDARD IN ADJUSTED ROTATED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID BASE SECTION, AND A COVER SUPPORTED FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID STANDARD FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS BETWEEN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION PROJECTING FORWARDLY OF SAID STANDARD AND AN UPSTANDING POSITION WITH ITS FREE EDGE PORTION SWUNG UPWARDLY TOWARD AN UPSTANDING POSITION. 